Collar Checkup Boycott

[animusmods]

Characters: open to all
Setting: infirmary; around the Tower in general
Format: party-style all week; please note the date your post is taking place in the subject line
Summary: The results of the collar boycott slowly become clear...
Warnings: standard Tower warnings
Note: You may NPC your own retrieval units.

The results don't begin to become clear until Tuesday--Monday passes more or less without incident, except for the number of orange-collared residents who miss their checks. And on Tuesday, the retrieval units are out to search for them. It doesn't seem like they were meant to recover so many, though: a clever resident will be able to avoid their retrieval unit entirely. And so, some oranges continue to have escaped their collar checkup today.

It's worse on Wednesday. Retrieval units are out and about again, but this time to try and search for the yellow-collared residents who skipped the day before. No orange-collared residents are searched out at all, and even then there seems to be enough confusion in the programming of the retrieval units any boycotting yellows can run off and hide if they're careful about it.

By the time Thursday arrives, there's a general, obvious level of confusion in the retrieval units' retrieval programming. They were obviously not programmed to be searching for so many colors at once. Some residents may find themselves being dragged in for a second collar check this week, even if they went to theirs, and the infirmary seems to be working at double time. No one even bothers to search for the two wayward greens.

By Friday the retrieval units are out in a number that seems more fitting for a small militia than anything else. Still, they seem more intent on tracking down the greens--their programming still telling them to retrieve those who were missed the day before--but they don't seem to know which greens they're looking for. Anyone with a green collar may be dragged in for a collar check, possibly multiple times today.

Saturday is chaos in the infirmary. The retrieval units seem to have entirely lost sight of who they're actually searching for, and anyone brought into the checkup room will be able to see how messy and confused it looks, with no real time to clean it and orange through violet collar fluid all lined up at once where normally only the color of the day and of the day before would be out at all. Again people may be brought in for multiple checks while those intent on evading capture can remain elusive.

But Sunday--on Sunday the entire process breaks down. There's too much volume for the retrieval units to handle, and they scatter about in a strange catch and release program, dragging anyone they catch to random places around the Tower before letting them go. They don't seem to be entirely certain of what they're supposed to be doing.

Something else happens on Sunday, as well...

Comments

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid had not expected the attack since he knew one of the people in the room, but considering one had been a stranger, he should have realized they might be jumpy especially with how chaotic things had been recently. Thankfully, the attack is one that he is easily able to dodge. For several moments, he will seem to vanish from sight as he very quickly moves between the projectiles that are aimed at him, eventually dropping back into sight near where Edgeworth is standing. Since he hears his roommate's warning to the other person, he doesn't summon his spear to defend himself once he reappears. Instead, he just waits to see if he will be attacked again.]

[wrigurun]

[She looks around frantically for him and the moment he reappears she rears back for another attack, only to halt at Edgeworth's comments]

Huh? Then who is he? I thought you told me to watch the door.

[frilliance]

This is Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, one of my roommates. Don't worry, he is not going to harm you. [Well, unless you attack him again which Edgeworth would rather avoid.

And with that, the prosecutor turns to Diarmuid and gives a polite bow.]

My apologies, Diarmuid. I told this young lady to guard the doorway in case any retrieval units tried to enter.

[oathshackledbird]

Understandable...

[Diarmuid relaxes a little when it becomes clear he isn't going to be attacked again, but at the same time he gives first Edgeworth and then his companion a curious look.]

Just what are you up to that you are worried about retrieval units showing up? You haven't gained a friend recently I don't know about, have you?

[Edgeworth might be the roommate that Diarmuid is the least close to, but he's pretty sure he would have noticed if he roommate suddenly had a retrieval unit shadowing him all the time.]

[wrigurun]

[Wriggle eyes the newcomer with a sort of disdain. She wasn't going to attack now that she'd been told he was on their side but she didn't particularly like being told to guard the door and then getting scolded when she did]

Well, I wouldn't call us friends but it's not like he's my enemy either.

[Unfortunately she doesn't quite cotton onto the fact that 'friend' wasn't really directed at her]

[frilliance]

Not quite. [And Edgeworth beckons Diarmuid to come over to the box on the side.

Edgeworth glances at the doorway to make sure nobody is coming and then lifts the container out of the box.]

Have you seen this before, Diarmuid?

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid gives the two of them a confused look. When he had said 'friend,' he had been referring to a retrieval unit since that is what so many people called them sarcastically any more. Apparently, either they had not caught the sarcasm or just weren't used to the reference.

He lets the explanation die in his throat when Edgeworth pulls out the container.]

No, where did you get that from?

[Cautiously, Diarmuid puts a hand on the container, looking at it more closely. He then taps his fingers on the valve.]

Have you looked to see what is in it?

[wrigurun]

Just over there!

[Wriggle cuts in and points to where the other canisters are sat]

I thought it was just medical junk but you seem to think it's pretty important...

[frilliance]

We have.

I would say that it's far more than just 'medical junk', however. Perhaps you get some paper towels and let me demonstrate?

Or you could cut of a piece of bandage. That will be quite sufficient.

[oathshackledbird]

'Medical junk' would be a fair guess since this is the infirmary, but...

[Diarmuid looks over at the containers the girl points to before returning his attention to Edgeworth and the container he is holding.]

...there are quite a few of them and this room is usually locked unless collar checks are in progress, isn't it?

[He blinks out of sight for a moment before returning with some paper towels in hand which he holds out to Edgeworth.]

So what is it we have that we aren't suppose to?

[wrigurun]

Is it?

[She never had any trouble getting in, maybe she was just lucky to catch them at the right times]

Dunno what it is though. Thought I did but he [She points at Edgeworth] says I don't.

[frilliance]

['He'? RUDE, Wriggle. Edgeworth will resist commenting, however. Instead, he smirks at Dia. which is the only non-rare type of smile you will get from Edgeworth. Sorry, Dia.] You're catching on, Diarmuid.

[And with that, he takes the towels and places them on the counter. Then, with great care, he presses the valve to open the container, partially covers the container with the lid without attaching it (to prevent as much air getting inside as possible) and cautiously tries to pour a very tiny bit of liquid onto the paper.

When the deed is done, Edgeworth quickly re-attaches the lid to stop any more of the stuff from escaping.]

[animusmods]

[The liquid stains the paper, but quickly turns clear just as before.]

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid watches Edgeworth's actions, his eyes widening when he sees the liquid.]

That... That's yellow collar fluid, isn't it? Why would they leave something like that unguarded?

[His eyes flick to the rest of the containers before returning to Wriggle and Edgeworth.]

No wonder you had her watching the door! We probably shouldn't linger here much longer. There is no telling when the retrieval units will return...

[wrigurun]

Ooh, so that's what it is!

[She had been watching over his shoulder curiously. Now they framed it like that, yeah it did seem pretty important]

Do you really think they'd make a mistake like that?

[frilliance]

[Took you a while, Wriggle.] Not normally, no. However, given recent events, I suppose it was natural that this would happen.

[And with that, Edgeworth grabs the box, carefully places the container inside horizontally and then starts placing bandages on top of it.]

Miss, keep watching the door until I've finished.

[oathshackledbird]

[Diarmuid's eyes shift to the door and then to Wriggle.]

Would you? You did a great job when I came in. We shouldn't be here much longer. Natural or not, they aren't likely to let this mistake go uncorrected for very long...

[He nods to Edgeworth.]

This will have to be hidden well. Our trunks are probably too obvious...

[There is a moment of silence before he continues is a much quieter voice.]

Have you ever been to the sauna floor, Edgeworth? We each have a locker there that will only open to us. It might be a good place for your spare bandages...

[wrigurun]

[She seems a little cynical of the compliment but she drifts back to the door all the same]

Alright, but you owe me if anyone else comes along.

[Even watching the halls she still keeps and ear on the conversation, although she doesn't really understand it herself]

[frilliance]

I thank you. [And with that, he turns to Diarmuid.]

The sauna? I haven't been there myself but I do know where it is. I suppose we'd better make our way there now. [Which will be dangerous, considering the number of monsters that roam at night. Someone is trying to avoid using the elevators. However, Diarmuid has a point - the dorms would be the first place that the retrieval units would search.

Finally, Edgeworth finishes and picks the box up.]

There. I have finished. Shall we.....?

[And to Wriggle.] Your job is done, Miss. I am in your debt.

[oathshackledbird]

It is after nightfall and the monsters are roaming. I am actually surprised to see you out at this hour, Edgeworth. I would almost prefer to see you back to our room and then take the container down myself. I know we have been training, but our training is only beginning.

[Diarmuid steps toward the door and then nods to Wriggle.]

May I ask your name, Lady? This find is just as much yours as it is ours, and I don't want to cut you out of decisions about it. Are you okay with this plan? I will be glad to pass whatever information we eventually find onto you.

[wrigurun]

[She strikes a small pose as her name is asked]

My name is Wriggle Nightbug! And if you're trying to get that thing somewhere safe it seems like you need an escort. I'm no stranger when it comes to fighting monsters.

[And no stranger to running away from them either but that's by the by]

But I'm okay with whatever you guys want to do. I don't care either way.

[frilliance]

I, ah.......had a few things to do before bed. [Yes, that's a lie.]

Well, um....Miss Nightbug [Sheesh, what a weird name.]. Your help is much appreciated.

[oathshackledbird]

If you would help us get to the elevator, Lady Nightbug, that would be appreciated. I am a trained fighter, but my roommate is just starting his training. I would like to see him safely to the dorms before I go and place this in its hiding spot.

[Diarmuid raises an eyebrow at Edgeworth. He knows a lie when he hears it and that was a lie. However, he doesn't question the man about it now. There will be time later for that.]

[wrigurun]

Hey, it's not a problem!

[Three small balls of light materialize around her. They're a little different to the ones she shot at Diarmuid earlier, they have less of a defined shape but if they need saving in a pinch it'll give them some quick firepower. Just a precaution really]

Are you ready? If people are gonna be after you you better be fast.

[frilliance]

J-just hang on a moment! I'd quite like to see this sauna room myself.

Furthermore, um.....there are a couple of things I'd like to deal with before I board the elevator. P-perhaps you two could go on ahead and I will join you soon afterwards? [Something is wrong here, Dia. This is rather......abnormal behaviour for Edgeworth, who would normally be far more sensible than to go roaming about the tower at night on his own.]